Hydrangea plant named ‘Hokomarouge’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla plant named ‘Hokomarouge’ that is characterized by its good growing habit, its very floriferous plant habit, its densely branched plant habit, its inflorescences that mature from green to deep pink in color, and its suitability for use as a potted plant.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘Hokomarouge’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘Hokomarouge’. ‘Hokomarouge’ represents a new bigleaf Hydrangea, aperennial shrub grown for landscape use and as a potted plant.

‘Hokomarouge’ was derived from an ongoing controlled breeding programdirected by the Inventors. A goal of the breeding program was to developa new cultivar of Hydrangea with unique flower colors and densebranching plant habit with suitability for growing as a potted plant.

‘Hokomarouge’ arose from a controlled cross made by the Inventors inBoskoop, The Netherlands in February of 2013 between Hydrangea ‘Jong-1’(not patented) as the female parent and Hydrangea ‘11-026-04’ (notpatented) as the male parent. ‘Hokomarouge’ was selected as a singleunique plant from amongst the resulting seedlings in May of 2015.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings by one of the Inventors in July of 2015 in Boskoop, TheNetherlands. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined thatthe characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Hokomarouge’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla.

-   -   1. ‘Hokomarouge’ exhibits a good growing habit.    -   2. ‘Hokomarouge’ exhibits a very floriferous plant habit.    -   3. ‘Hokomarouge’ exhibits a densely branched plant habit.    -   4. ‘Hokomarouge’ exhibits inflorescences that mature from green        to deep pink in color.    -   5. ‘Hokomarouge’ exhibits suitability for use as a potted plant.

The female parent of ‘Hokomarouge’ differs from ‘Hokomarouge’ in havinginflorescences with sterile sepals that are more red in color, fewerbranches, and a less floriferous plant habit. The male parent of‘Hokomarouge’ differs from ‘Hokomarouge’ in having inflorescences thatare larger in size and white-pink in color, fewer branches, and a lessfloriferous plant habit. ‘Hokomarouge’ can be most closely compared tothe Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars ‘Kolmapiru’ (not patented) and‘Hortmadace’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,084). ‘Kolmapiru’ is similar to‘Hokomarouge’ in having inflorescences that are similar in color and inbeing suitable for use as a potted plant. ‘Kolmapiru’ differs from‘Hokomarouge’ in having branches that are longer but fewer in number,inflorescences with less green on the sepals, and leaves that are darkgreen in color. ‘Hortmadace’ is similar to ‘Hokomarouge’ in beingsuitable as a potted plant, having hard inflorescences that are pink incolor, and being densely branched. ‘Hortmadace’ differs from‘Hokomarouge’ in having fewer branches, and inflorescences that aresofter in texture with sterile flower sepals that are all pink in color.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicants assert that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicants claim aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosures and/orsales that fall within a one-year grace period prior to the effectivefiling date. Disclosures include website listings by Nursery Mag, PlantsNouveau, and Kamps Hydrangea.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea. The photographs weretaken of a two-year-old plant of ‘Hokomarouge’ as grown in a greenhousein a 2-gallon container in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘Hokomarouge’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the changing colorsof the inflorescences of ‘Hokomarouge’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of one-year-old plants of‘Hokomarouge’ as grown in a greenhouse in 6-inch containers in Vineland,Ontario, Canada. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as ithas not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General Description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Late spring to late summer with flowers            showy at least for 2 months in The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub, mophead type Hydrangea.        -   Plant habit.—Upright, compact.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 28 cm in height and 38 cm            in spread, 80 cm in height and width as a 3-year-old plant            grown in the landscape.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 9.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility and resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fine and fibrous, 161C in color.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Root development.—An average of 6 weeks for root initiation            with a young rooted plant produced in an average of 18            weeks.        -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate.-   Branch description:    -   -   Branch shape.—Rounded.        -   Branch strength.—Strong.        -   Branch color.—Young; 145A, mature; 144A, older woody            branches; 200B, old bark; 200A, 200B, and 177B.        -   Branch size.—An average of 20 cm in length (excluding            inflorescence) and 7 mm in diameter.        -   Branch surface.—Young and mature; glossy, glabrous, branches            are sparsely covered with lenticels; oval in shape, average            of 7 per 1 cm diameter, average of 1 mm in length, 0.2 mm in            width, 200A in color, older woody branches; matte with a            sheen, glabrous, old bark; exfoliating, matte, dry.        -   Branch aspect.—Upright to slightly outward.        -   Internode length.—An average of 2 cm.        -   Branching.—Freely branching; 12 main branches, 4 to 6            lateral branches per main branch.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Broad ovate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Short attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Short apiculate.        -   Leaf margins.—Coarsely serrate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper and lower surface 145A.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 7.5 cm in length and 5 cm in width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf number.—An average of 14 per lateral stem.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; glabrous, matte with a slight            sheen, lower surface glabrous, matte.        -   Leaf color.—Young and mature foliage; upper surface 139A,            lower surface 138B.        -   Petioles.—An average of 1.2 cm in length and 2 mm in            diameter, upper and lower surface color 145A, both surfaces            are smooth and slightly glossy.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal panicle, flattened mophead            comprised of sterile flowers above fertile flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Sterile flowers; persistent            for an average of 6 weeks, fertile flowers; self-cleaning,            an average of 5 days.        -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 9 cm in height and 13 cm            in diameter.        -   Flower number.—An average of 50 sterile flowers and 10            fertile flowers per panicle.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright to outward.        -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; an average of 3 cm in diameter            and 1 cm in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 1 cm in            diameter and 3 mm in depth.        -   Flower type.—Rotate.        -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; an average of 8 mm in length            and 4 mm in diameter, obovate in shape, 144B, fertile            flowers; an average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter,            obovate in shape, color; 144B.        -   Peduncles.—Strong, round in shape, an average of 2 cm in            length and 2 mm in width, 147B in color, surface slightly            glossy and moderately covered with thin pubescence too small            to measure.        -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; held primarily at an average            angle of 30°, an average of 2 cm in length and 2 mm in            diameter, moderately strong strength, color; 145D, flushed            with 70D, occasional thin lines of N79B, surface matte and            glabrous, fertile flowers; held at an average angle of 20°            from vertical, an average of 3 mm in length and 1 mm in            diameter, moderate strength, 70D in color, matte and            glabrous surface.        -   Petals.—Sterile flowers; an average of 5, rotate, cruciform            in arrangement, acute apex, cuneate base, entire margins,            ovate to moderately concave in shape, average of 3 mm in            length and 2 mm in width, both surfaces; smooth, glabrous            and matte, color; when opening upper and lower surface 157A,            when fully open upper and lower surface a blend of 73A, 73B,            and 73C, fertile flowers; an average 5, rotate in            arrangement, ovate and concave in shape, entire margin,            acute apex, cuneate base, an average of 2 mm in length and 1            mm in width, upper and lower surface glabrous and matte,            color; when opening upper and lower surface 157A and 145B,            when fully open upper and lower surface; 68C.        -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; 4, rotate, broadly and bluntly            acute apex with an emarginate outer tip, broadly cuneate            base, entire margins, reniform to nearly deltoid in shape,            an average of 2 cm in length and width, upper and lower            surface glabrous and matte, color; when opening upper            surface 144B, flushed with 61A and 61B, veins 69A, when            opening lower surface 145C, when fully open upper surface            NN74B, hints of N148A, when fully open lower surface a blend            of 75B and 75D, upper and lower surface fading to 77A,            fertile flowers; dropped when maturing.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Sterile flowers; 3 pistils, an average of 0.5 mm            in length, stigma; club-shaped and 158A in color, style; 0.3            mm in length, color; 158A, top (under the stigma) NN78A,            ovary; oval, superior, is 157A in color, fertile flowers; an            average of 3 pistils, an average of 1 mm in length, stigma;            club-shaped and 158A in color, style; 0.5 mm in length and            NN78A in color, ovary is 158A in color.        -   Androecium.—Sterile flowers; an average of 8 stamens,            filaments; an average of 1 mm in length and NN155D in color,            anthers; broad oblong in shape, an average of 0.75 mm in            length and color; 155D, center 145A, pollen; none observed,            fertile flowers; an average of 10 stamens, filaments; an            average of 1 mm in length and 155B in color, anthers; broad            oblong in shape, an average of 0.5 mm in length and 155D in            color, pollen; none observed.        -   Fruit and seed.—None observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named‘Hokomarouge’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.